PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE. 83 



According to the course of crops detailed in our 

 last chapter, potatoes, in a sandy soil y precede rye. 

 The ploughing, harrowing, and manuring given to 

 that crop, will therefore make part of the prepara- 

 tion necessary for this. After harvesting the pota- 

 toes, crossplough the ground, and sow and harrow 

 in the rye ; taking care, as in all other cases, that 

 the seed be carefully selected and thorougly wash- 

 ed in lime-water, as the means best calculated to 

 prevent the ergot ; a disease to which it is most lia- 

 ble, and which is supposed to be occasioned by too 

 great humidity.* 



Rye is not exempt from the attacks of insects, 

 but suffers less from them than either wheat or bar- 

 ley. Whenever the straw of winter rye becomes 

 yellow, shining, or flinty, and circulates no more 

 juices, nature gives the signal for harvest, and no 

 time should be lost in obeying it. " Cut tivo days 

 loo soon rather than one day too late" was among 

 the precepts of Cato ; which, if adopted here, would 

 save much grain, terminate the harvest about the 

 10th of July, and give abundant time to turn down 

 the stubble and sow the crop next in succession. 



III. Turnips. 



These are said to be natives of the seacoast of 

 the north of Europe, where they are found growing 

 spontaneously. There are eight species and many 

 varieties ; but, as they have all the same character 

 and uses, and require nearly the same treatment, 

 we shall only speak of the white turnip and the 

 yellow. 



Two methods of cultivation have been pursued, 

 according to the plan either of turning them down 

 as manure, or of consuming them on the field or in 

 the stable by sheep or cattle. In the first case, the 

 harrow is used instead of the plough ; and, even upon 

 light, porous soil, is a pretty good substitute. The 



* See Tessier on the Diseases of Plants. 



